Grey

Before-Prologue

Before...

A little girl sat on her bed. Her parents stood above her, saying goodnight.

"We love you, baby. Get some sleep. Don't let the bed bugs bite," the mother said, leaning to plant a kiss on the child's forehead. The father moved to tuck the girl under her blankets, and she obliged.

"I won't, Momma. Night-night," the girl said, little wisps of dark hair spilling on the pillowcase like an inverted halo. Her parents smiled and left the room together.

The father came back in, walking across the room to shut the window. "Almost forgot." He said, chuckling.

"G'Night, hon."

He closed her door one final time, and she was alone.

The girl went deeper into the blankets, trying not to listen to the soft scratches on the window. It's only the trees, she thought. It's just the trees-

The window unlocked.

Trees,trees,trees,trees,trees-

It opened.

She didn't move, barely breathing under the blanket. Fear coursed her body.

Footsteps were coming over to her bed. She couldn't scream.

A long, scaly grip suddenly tightened on her shoulder. Forcing the girl to look.

Her gaze was met with burning black and gold eyes and a face full of what she couldn't describe- for a long black cloak covered any further view.

She shook with fear as the-the thing slowly removed the fabric.

And she screamed. And screamed, and cried, trying to run, 'I don't want to!',

Nothing.

It carefully placed back its cloak, replenished and almost completely satisfied.

Almost.

"Hey! HEY! WHO ARE YOU?!"

A man had come running up the stairs, a baseball bat in his hands. His grip was shaky, and the thing could see fear in his eyes. It nearly smiled at its good fortune tonight. Its duty was the girl, but the father's time was coming anyway...

It stepped closer to the man. He swallowed, and raised the bat. "Don't get any closer," he threatened. "What did you do to my daughter, you son of a bi-"

It entered his mind, taking his thoughts and memories, binding them with the daughter's in its own head. Sleep, it rasped.

It pulled on his soul, and felt the man diminish.

He left the bodies lying haplessly, and slowly exited through the window, its work done.

Two down, three to go...